The Hindu : Miscellaneous / Religion : Man's essential nature

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Tuesday, Feb 22, 2005

Miscellaneous

Miscellaneous - Religion

Man's essential nature

CHENNAI, FEB.22 . The Upanishads state that man is essentially divine. How is one to ascertain what is essential in man? Generally one tries to identify an individual on the basis of nationality, gender, language and so on, but basic to all these distinguishing features is the fact that he is essentially a human being; all other characteristics are thus add-ons. So also is the truth that a human being is essentially divine in nature. But, this fact does not strike the majority of us and we tend to identify a person with his body-mind-intellect personality and its distinct qualities. Spirituality deals with the state of the mind and the change in identity has to take place in the consciousness.

In his discourse, Swami Atmashraddhananda said guidance was necessary for spiritual pursuit. First one has to hear about the nature of the Self (Atman) described in the scriptural texts and then constantly recall the scriptural statements. The final step is meditation on the truth of these teachings. This practice is based on the well-known dictum, "Whatever you think you become." The Katha Upanishad gives the analogy of a chariot drawn by horses for illustrating man's spiritual nature. It says, "Know the (individual) Self as the master of the chariot and the body as the chariot. Know the intellect as the charioteer and the mind as verily the bridle. They call the senses the horses; the senses having been imagined as horses, know the objects as the ways."

When the Self associates with the body, senses and the mind it is spoken of as the enjoyer because the person then identifies with the sorrows and joys experienced through these instruments. When the mind is uncontrolled and the intellect loses its capacity of discrimination, the senses become unruly like vicious horses, which cannot be controlled by the charioteer. If a person has to tread the right path a steady driver and good horses are essential to drive the chariot. So also in life when the intellect is not convinced of one's spiritual nature, it takes the person in the wrong direction.

All human actions and experiences in the world are meant to direct man to return to the place from which he has come— the Divine, the original source. Discrimination and a controlled mind enable him to become detached from worldly afflictions to stay anchored in the Self. For such a person there is no rebirth as he has reached that goal from which there is no return.

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